Bibliography:
Murr, Virginia. "Government Regulation Places Excessive Emphasis on Being Overweight." Should the Government Regulate What People Eat? Ed. Ronald D. Lankford, Jr. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Rpt. from "Another Hazard to Government Regulation of 'Unhealthy' or 'Fattening' Foods."ladyphilosophy.com 22 Mar. 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
The article is a composition of different opinions on the “obesity epidemic” and how our government and society has responded. Published in 2014, the article is mainly opposed to any government intervention for American health, using statistics that support the prevalence of body image issues to bolster its position. It also suggests the alternative of correcting parenting in order to reduce obesity. It also claims that banning healthy food is a slippery slope to banning all food, because eating disorders are bad too.
This is purely a persuasive piece, intended for the general public, written by Virginia Murr, a Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship employee. This source is full of bias and contains some bad logic in its reasoning. This article was useful in exposing me, in my research, to arguments that oppose my own beliefs.
"Obesity." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
This article is an overview of obesity, giving definitions, opposing views, and different facts about the condition, cited from credible sources. The article was published in 2014, although no exact date is given. The information is presented in an organized manner, making it easily accessible. This serves the purpose of the article, to give a general description of obesity and some of the political and economic effects that surround it to the general public.
The article did not show very much bias, as it cited credible sources and acknowledged different viewpoints objectively. I used this source to gain a broader understanding of the issue and its implications beyond the individual.
Trimarchi, Maria. "10 Ways Sitting Wrecks Your Body" 16 July 2014. HowStuffWorks.com. 07 October 2014.
A “how stuff works” article may seem like a sketchy place to find credible information on a topic, however I was delightfully surprised by the professionalism shown. The information is presented clearly and mostly in layman's terms, focusing on how sitting is bad for your health. The general public was the intended audience, as the source only reported the findings and implications of scientific studies. It was published 16 July, 2014.
The author of the article claims no authority in health or science and, at times, makes claims that he does not back up with empirical evidence. However, I found that, when he did this, his claims were consistent with the consensus found in most of my other research. The majority of the time the author’s claims were supported by studies and research. I used this article as a layman’s translation of these scientific works as well as a gateway to scientific sources that are often elusive.
Lieberman, D., Venkadesan, M., Daoud, A., & Werbel, W. (n.d.). “Running Barefoot.” Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This is a Harvard website dedicated to the research of Daniel E. Lieberman, Madhusudhan Venkadesan, Adam I. Daoud, and William A. Werbel into the evolutionary puzzle of how humans ran comfortably without running shoes and obtained meat in the gap spanning millions of years between the “dawn” of man and the invention of the first projectile weapons. Their extensive study has lead to the invention of evolutionary running as well as a deeper understanding of our history, with persistence hunting.
The evidence presented is very well organized and the team is careful not to overstate or overclaim the implications of their findings (demonizing the running shoe). They provide links to their published studies and other works that support their claims. The purpose is purely educational, and I used it to gain an understanding of the biomechanics involved in running.
Starrett, K., & Cordoza, G. (2012). “Becoming a supple leopard: The ultimate guide to resolving pain, preventing injury, and optimizing athletic performance.” Auberry, Calif.: Victory.
This book is a comprehensive guide to proper function, alignment, and maintenance of the human body. The descriptions are mostly in layman’s terms, so accessibility is no issue, but depth sometimes is. Starrett is a large name in fitness and holds a Ph.D in physical therapy. The purpose of this book was to turn a profit and to teach people how they work.
The accessible format fits perfectly as the intended audience is the masses. The information has been criticized for having a biased Crossfit perspective. Even so, the information was very useful to gain an understanding of how the body works together and most importantly it offers innovative ways to mobilize tissues and restore function.
Page, Randy M., and Larry A. Tucker. "Psychosocial discomfort and exercise frequency: an epidemiological study of adolescents." Adolescence 29.113 (1994): 183+. Science in Context. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
This study looks at the correlation between exercise and psychological discomfort (shyness, loneliness, and hopelessness) in adolescence. It used a large sample size and controlled some variables (gender, perceived attractiveness, etc). The study found that those who exercised infrequently scored significantly higher on psychological discomfort testing than those who exercise more frequently. The study was conducted 1994, intended for general scientific understanding. No insight to the authority of the individuals who conducted the study was given.
The references to previous work and assumptions made were backed up by heavy citation. No bias was detectable, as the information was presented in a neutral, objective manner. This source was helpful for citation and gaining an understanding of the psychological effects of exercise on the body.
McDougall, C. (2009). Born to run: A hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Published in 2009, McDougall’s Born To Run quickly became one of the most controversial and intriguing things to happen to modern running. The book weaves back and forth between an amazing adventure story about some of the craziest runners of America travelling down to Mexico to face off against the Tarahumara, a near mythical running tribe, in an ultramarathon and a history of the running shoe companies and a strong voiced argument against them. The information does contain bias, as McDougall tries to call everyone to throw off their shoes and their bodies will do the rest, however, his information of barefoot running and injury rates of modern running is heavily supported by solid, credible sources that consistent appear in his book. McDougall himself holds no degree on the subject, although he is an avid “barefoot” runner himself.
This book was an interesting perspective on running and an inspiring story about man’s ability to run by our own might. Despite the bias, slightly radical disposition of the author, the book still makes great points, in an easily digestible format. This book has given me a lot of information into human evolutionary history, and running/exercise’s role in said history. It also lead me to some credible, solid research.
Adhesions Can Bind Body Structures Together. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2014.
This site gives a description and provides details / implications of adhesions. No date or author is given, however the article cites his sources and explains concepts thoroughly in a non biased, objective style. This is an informative site aimed at any who wish to learn a little bit about adhesions and the effect they have on one’s body.
This formerly was a gap in my understanding about the body. I knew that immobility lead to tightness and eventually dysfunction but the exact mechanism of said process was a mystery. I will use this, in part, to explain why “sitting is the devil” and leading an active life is an essential to remaining healthy.
Self-Limiting Exercise-Naturally Correct Exercise. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2014.
This site is an overview of Gray Cook’s, an experienced physical therapist, life work and philosophy. His ideas are supported by the mechanics of the body and although he cites no authority other than his own, his views are not radical or controversial in any way that seriously discredits his opinions. He works from a body of knowledge that has been well understood for years: the mechanics of the musculoskeletal system. The information is to help athletes or average joes work towards better function and, in part, to promote Cook’s work and book.
His philosophy has to do with the application of “self limiting exercise” to instill proper movement and training (functional) by focusing on a “weak link” that will limit oneself from causing injury. This was helpful to me because it was an interesting and more holistic way to approach physical therapy. This helped to form my overall opinion on the subject of exercise and bridging the gap between average dysfunction and supreme functional training.
Muscular Strength and Adiposity as Predictors of Adulthood Cancer Mortality in Men. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2014.
Published in May 2009, this study examine the association of strength, adiposity, and cancer mortality in men. This 23 year endeavor, involving more than 8,000 men, concluded that higher levels of muscular strength are associated with lower mortality rates due to cancer, independent of adiposity. This would suggest that regular strength training might reduce the risk of death by cancer by 30-40%. This study used a large sample size, consistent tools of measurement and is presented in a non biased tone. The researchers names are given (there are many) and their affiliations listed, ranging from Department of Exercise Science to Preventative Nutrition.
This study was funded by several organizations, including the American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship, none of whom would indicate suspicion of skewed results. The purpose of the study would seem to be general statistical inquiry. This is an interesting, miscellaneous benefit to resistance training that I will definitely present in my project. Mostly, this supports my opinions on living a healthy lifestyle.
Pi-Sunyer, F., & Et al. (1998, September 1). Clinical Guidelines On The Treatment, Identification, And Treatment Of Overweight and Obesity In Adults. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
This clinical text is the current source for all things obesity in the medical world. It details obesities effects, on an individual and society, how to diagnose and define obesity, and how to treat it. This text comes backed by a laundry list of medical professionals (although no contact information is given) and is written in an organized, nonbiased manner. This gives a lot of credibility to the source.
I found this an authoritative source which clearly described many facets of the epidemic. It is intended for other medical professionals, as it lays out guidelines for treatment and diagnosis, so that everyone may be on the same page. I used this site mainly for a description of the clinically accepted health effects of being obese. However, it also provided me with deep background information on obesity.
Hardee JP, Porter RR, Sui X, Archer E, Lee IM, Lavie CJ, & Blair SN. (2014, January 1). The Effect of Resistance Exercise on All-cause Mortality in Cancer Survivors. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
This study followed 2863 cancer survivors, ranging greatly in age, who received preventative medical examination from 1987 to 2002. The study found that physical activity (namely aerobic) was not associated with a lower all-cause mortality rate. However, resistance training was associated with a 33% lower risk of all-cause mortality, after adjusting for potential confounders. In conclusion, the findings act as preliminary evidence of the benefits of resistance training for cancer survivors.
This study was only conducted for general statistical knowledge of cancer treatment and presented in a clear, concise format. Sadly, only the abstract for this study is accessible to me through PubMed, however the information of the authors is available. They are all in the health field, most being exercise science students. The email address of one student is available. Although I wish I was able to see the whole study, there is no reason to believe bias or misinformation is contained on the page. This is an interesting study that I intend to use as supporting evidence that resistance training may reduce the risk of cancer and support a healthy lifestyle.
Kelly, M. (2013, July 3). Exercise reorganizes the brain to be more resilient to stress. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
This article, posted on princeton.edu in 2013, depicts a Princeton-led study used two groups of mice, one given access to exercise and another not. The mice were exposed to a stressor (cold water) and their brain functions monitored. The researchers found that the mice who exercised processed the stress differently and handled it better. They concluded that exercise promotes cell growth in the ventral hippocampus, and strengthens the mechanisms for preventing these easily excitable brain cells from firing. This allows the fit mice grace under pressure, as oppose to sedentary mice.
The author, Morgan Kelly, works in the Office of Communications at Princeton University, so, although not a scientist herself, she would have access to resources at Princeton. The article is formatted clearly, and does not seem to contain bias as it features other’s takes on the implications of the study. The purpose of the article remains to proliferate the findings of this Princeton study to the general public and possibly beyond. I found this very insightful, knowing little about the brain, and I will cite it directly in my project to support why exercise is beneficial.
BBC. (2009, November 6). Human Mammal, Human Hunter - Attenborough - Life of Mammals - BBC [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=826HMLoiE_o
This is a Youtube video posted by BBC, quickly documenting the “sand people” tribe persistence hunting a kudo. The narration explains the details of the hunt, the tribe tracking and communicating to one another. BBC is a renowned news source and tends to be accurate. The video is constructed clearly and is non-biased. There is no reason to be suspicious of the information presented, especially because the video makes no extraordinary or controversial claims.
The video is meant for entertainment, but it does contain interesting information on persistence hunting and why it is how human ancestors hunted. This video contributed to my knowledge of evolution and movement of the human body. I will use it in my project to demonstrate what humans are built to do, and what is physically possible. Running ultramarathons is not crazy, it is actually what were built to do.
Morris, J., Pollard, R., Everitt, M., Chave, S., & Semmence, A. (n.d.). Vigorous Exercise in Leisure-Time: Protection Against Coronary Heart Disease. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This is the abstract of a reflective study performed investigating an association between vigorous exercise and coronary heart disease (CHD) in men. Using a sample size of 17,944, the study found that men who kept fit and engaged in vigorous exercise were a little less than half as likely to experience incidence of fatal or nonfatal manifestations of CHD, than their peers who reported no vigorous exercise. The study concludes that vigorous exercise might be a sort of “nature defence” against heart disease.
Although I was only able to view the abstract of the study, I found no reason to suspect bias or misinformation. The study was backed by reputable sources and seemingly intended for medical, statistical research. The names of the statisticians who carried out the study and their credentials are provided, most of them hailing from the London School of Hygene and Tropical Medicine, however no contact information is given. The information is presented very directly, as it is an abstract.
Manson, J., & Et al. (n.d.). A Prospective Study of Walking as Compared with Vigorous Exercise in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This is the full report of a prospective study that placed 72,488 females into different categories of energy expenditure (via walking) and looked for association with cardiovascular disease. The study found a strong, graded inverse correlation with energy expenditure and risk of cardiovascular disease in females.
The study was funded by National Institutes of Health and performed by several medical doctors, whose names and level of education are provided. The writing is very clear, concise and scientific. This study has a lot of power given the impressive sample size and consistent results. This study is intended for general medical knowledge and I intend to use it to show the importance of exercise.
Tanasescu, M., & Et al. (2002, October 23). Exercise Type and Intensity in Relation to Coronary Heart Disease in Men. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This twelve year study, on 44,452 men, looked into the relationship between different types of exercise and heart disease, hoping to find correlations between which exercise may be best for prevention. The study showed that that men who ran an hour a week reduced reduced their risk of heart disease by 42%, those who weight trained 30 minutes a week reduced their risk by 23%, and those who rowed for an hour each week reduced their risk by 18%.
The study was conducted by a group of medical doctors (whose names are available and credentials given), for the purpose of discovering correlations between heart disease and different types of exercise. The source seems free of bias, expressing that the findings in the study are in no way concrete, and is organized in a concise and clear manner. I found the study intriguing, and will use it in my report.
Carey, A. (2005). The pain-free program: A proven method to relieve back, neck, shoulder, and joint pain. Hoboken, N.J.: J. Wiley.
This book is a clinical look at addressing dysfunction through functional training. Not exactly revolutionary, but it holds ideas that western medicine has lost or overlooked. The ideas of the human body as an interconnected machine stressed in this book are amenable to the findings of all my other research. However, the bonus to this book is that it takes a slightly more clinical approach to restoring function. More gentle than, say, Supple Leopard.
This book is intended for the masses to hopefully improve the quality of life for those of us stuck in modern day dysfunctional patterns, or jumping through hoops in the traditional medical system. Carey has run his own clinic Function First for over a decade (at the time of writing the book), and has seen success employing the methods he teaches. There is bias in the book, much in the same way there is bias in Supple Leopard; it is in favor of his ideas and approach. However, I still found the book very helpful and generally right inline with the rest of my research. I will use it to help me address some common problems people have moving.
Starrett, K., & Murphy, T. (2014). Ready to run: Unlocking your potential to run naturally. Victory Belt Publishing.
This book, a sort of spiritual subset to Becoming a Supple Leopard, goes in depth into the mobility, form, and mechanics necessary to be able to enjoy a lifetime of running. Starrett’s stylized and original approach to mobility and injury prevention appear once more. The book advocates bridging the gap from modern running to evolution (barefoot) running, and acts as a sort of blueprint to make that journey.
Starrett is one of the world’s most renowned physical therapists. He owns and operates out of his crossfit gym in California. Some have criticized his approach as containing too much “crossfit propaganda,” and since he is a business man one must be weary of bias or misinformation. That being said, I found most of the material and concepts covered in the book to be fairly vanilla, when it comes to fitness. Simply put, the book tries to keep people who want to go minimal from getting hurt. I will use this book as a source when addressing weak arches in my project.
Boyle, M., & Verstegen, M. (2010). Advances in functional training: Training techniques for coaches, personal trainers and athletes. Santa Cruz, Calif.: On Target Publications.
This book is a follow up to Boyle’s previous work Functional Training for Sports. It highlights the advances in the field of functional strength training since the first book. Boyle is a successful strength and conditioning coach who runs his own practice. The book goes into detail on programming workouts, coaching cues for explaining movement, and new scientific discoveries and understandings of functional strength.
Boyle is on the forefront of his field and also carries a lot of experience behind him. Of course this leaves his opinions open to bias, but I found most of the information in this book to be reasonable and valid, agreeing with other research I conducted. This book is organized well, directed at coaches looking to start their own practice in Strength and Conditioning. As this is a recreational hobby of mine, I found the coaching tips useful. It will also help me to explain some of the more comprehensive ideas about movement in my project.
Murr, Virginia. "Government Regulation Places Excessive Emphasis on Being Overweight." Should the Government Regulate What People Eat? Ed. Ronald D. Lankford, Jr. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Rpt. from "Another Hazard to Government Regulation of 'Unhealthy' or 'Fattening' Foods."ladyphilosophy.com 22 Mar. 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
The article is a composition of different opinions on the “obesity epidemic” and how our government and society has responded. Published in 2014, the article is mainly opposed to any government intervention for American health, using statistics that support the prevalence of body image issues to bolster its position. It also suggests the alternative of correcting parenting in order to reduce obesity. It also claims that banning healthy food is a slippery slope to banning all food, because eating disorders are bad too.
This is purely a persuasive piece, intended for the general public, written by Virginia Murr, a Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship employee. This source is full of bias and contains some bad logic in its reasoning. This article was useful in exposing me, in my research, to arguments that oppose my own beliefs.
"Obesity." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
This article is an overview of obesity, giving definitions, opposing views, and different facts about the condition, cited from credible sources. The article was published in 2014, although no exact date is given. The information is presented in an organized manner, making it easily accessible. This serves the purpose of the article, to give a general description of obesity and some of the political and economic effects that surround it to the general public.
The article did not show very much bias, as it cited credible sources and acknowledged different viewpoints objectively. I used this source to gain a broader understanding of the issue and its implications beyond the individual.
Trimarchi, Maria. "10 Ways Sitting Wrecks Your Body" 16 July 2014. HowStuffWorks.com. 07 October 2014.
A “how stuff works” article may seem like a sketchy place to find credible information on a topic, however I was delightfully surprised by the professionalism shown. The information is presented clearly and mostly in layman's terms, focusing on how sitting is bad for your health. The general public was the intended audience, as the source only reported the findings and implications of scientific studies. It was published 16 July, 2014.
The author of the article claims no authority in health or science and, at times, makes claims that he does not back up with empirical evidence. However, I found that, when he did this, his claims were consistent with the consensus found in most of my other research. The majority of the time the author’s claims were supported by studies and research. I used this article as a layman’s translation of these scientific works as well as a gateway to scientific sources that are often elusive.
Lieberman, D., Venkadesan, M., Daoud, A., & Werbel, W. (n.d.). “Running Barefoot.” Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This is a Harvard website dedicated to the research of Daniel E. Lieberman, Madhusudhan Venkadesan, Adam I. Daoud, and William A. Werbel into the evolutionary puzzle of how humans ran comfortably without running shoes and obtained meat in the gap spanning millions of years between the “dawn” of man and the invention of the first projectile weapons. Their extensive study has lead to the invention of evolutionary running as well as a deeper understanding of our history, with persistence hunting.
The evidence presented is very well organized and the team is careful not to overstate or overclaim the implications of their findings (demonizing the running shoe). They provide links to their published studies and other works that support their claims. The purpose is purely educational, and I used it to gain an understanding of the biomechanics involved in running.
Starrett, K., & Cordoza, G. (2012). “Becoming a supple leopard: The ultimate guide to resolving pain, preventing injury, and optimizing athletic performance.” Auberry, Calif.: Victory.
This book is a comprehensive guide to proper function, alignment, and maintenance of the human body. The descriptions are mostly in layman’s terms, so accessibility is no issue, but depth sometimes is. Starrett is a large name in fitness and holds a Ph.D in physical therapy. The purpose of this book was to turn a profit and to teach people how they work.
The accessible format fits perfectly as the intended audience is the masses. The information has been criticized for having a biased Crossfit perspective. Even so, the information was very useful to gain an understanding of how the body works together and most importantly it offers innovative ways to mobilize tissues and restore function.
Page, Randy M., and Larry A. Tucker. "Psychosocial discomfort and exercise frequency: an epidemiological study of adolescents." Adolescence 29.113 (1994): 183+. Science in Context. Web. 8 Oct. 2014.
This study looks at the correlation between exercise and psychological discomfort (shyness, loneliness, and hopelessness) in adolescence. It used a large sample size and controlled some variables (gender, perceived attractiveness, etc). The study found that those who exercised infrequently scored significantly higher on psychological discomfort testing than those who exercise more frequently. The study was conducted 1994, intended for general scientific understanding. No insight to the authority of the individuals who conducted the study was given.
The references to previous work and assumptions made were backed up by heavy citation. No bias was detectable, as the information was presented in a neutral, objective manner. This source was helpful for citation and gaining an understanding of the psychological effects of exercise on the body.
McDougall, C. (2009). Born to run: A hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Published in 2009, McDougall’s Born To Run quickly became one of the most controversial and intriguing things to happen to modern running. The book weaves back and forth between an amazing adventure story about some of the craziest runners of America travelling down to Mexico to face off against the Tarahumara, a near mythical running tribe, in an ultramarathon and a history of the running shoe companies and a strong voiced argument against them. The information does contain bias, as McDougall tries to call everyone to throw off their shoes and their bodies will do the rest, however, his information of barefoot running and injury rates of modern running is heavily supported by solid, credible sources that consistent appear in his book. McDougall himself holds no degree on the subject, although he is an avid “barefoot” runner himself.
This book was an interesting perspective on running and an inspiring story about man’s ability to run by our own might. Despite the bias, slightly radical disposition of the author, the book still makes great points, in an easily digestible format. This book has given me a lot of information into human evolutionary history, and running/exercise’s role in said history. It also lead me to some credible, solid research.
Adhesions Can Bind Body Structures Together. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2014.
This site gives a description and provides details / implications of adhesions. No date or author is given, however the article cites his sources and explains concepts thoroughly in a non biased, objective style. This is an informative site aimed at any who wish to learn a little bit about adhesions and the effect they have on one’s body.
This formerly was a gap in my understanding about the body. I knew that immobility lead to tightness and eventually dysfunction but the exact mechanism of said process was a mystery. I will use this, in part, to explain why “sitting is the devil” and leading an active life is an essential to remaining healthy.
Self-Limiting Exercise-Naturally Correct Exercise. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2014.
This site is an overview of Gray Cook’s, an experienced physical therapist, life work and philosophy. His ideas are supported by the mechanics of the body and although he cites no authority other than his own, his views are not radical or controversial in any way that seriously discredits his opinions. He works from a body of knowledge that has been well understood for years: the mechanics of the musculoskeletal system. The information is to help athletes or average joes work towards better function and, in part, to promote Cook’s work and book.
His philosophy has to do with the application of “self limiting exercise” to instill proper movement and training (functional) by focusing on a “weak link” that will limit oneself from causing injury. This was helpful to me because it was an interesting and more holistic way to approach physical therapy. This helped to form my overall opinion on the subject of exercise and bridging the gap between average dysfunction and supreme functional training.
Muscular Strength and Adiposity as Predictors of Adulthood Cancer Mortality in Men. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2014.
Published in May 2009, this study examine the association of strength, adiposity, and cancer mortality in men. This 23 year endeavor, involving more than 8,000 men, concluded that higher levels of muscular strength are associated with lower mortality rates due to cancer, independent of adiposity. This would suggest that regular strength training might reduce the risk of death by cancer by 30-40%. This study used a large sample size, consistent tools of measurement and is presented in a non biased tone. The researchers names are given (there are many) and their affiliations listed, ranging from Department of Exercise Science to Preventative Nutrition.
This study was funded by several organizations, including the American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship, none of whom would indicate suspicion of skewed results. The purpose of the study would seem to be general statistical inquiry. This is an interesting, miscellaneous benefit to resistance training that I will definitely present in my project. Mostly, this supports my opinions on living a healthy lifestyle.
Pi-Sunyer, F., & Et al. (1998, September 1). Clinical Guidelines On The Treatment, Identification, And Treatment Of Overweight and Obesity In Adults. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
This clinical text is the current source for all things obesity in the medical world. It details obesities effects, on an individual and society, how to diagnose and define obesity, and how to treat it. This text comes backed by a laundry list of medical professionals (although no contact information is given) and is written in an organized, nonbiased manner. This gives a lot of credibility to the source.
I found this an authoritative source which clearly described many facets of the epidemic. It is intended for other medical professionals, as it lays out guidelines for treatment and diagnosis, so that everyone may be on the same page. I used this site mainly for a description of the clinically accepted health effects of being obese. However, it also provided me with deep background information on obesity.
Hardee JP, Porter RR, Sui X, Archer E, Lee IM, Lavie CJ, & Blair SN. (2014, January 1). The Effect of Resistance Exercise on All-cause Mortality in Cancer Survivors. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
This study followed 2863 cancer survivors, ranging greatly in age, who received preventative medical examination from 1987 to 2002. The study found that physical activity (namely aerobic) was not associated with a lower all-cause mortality rate. However, resistance training was associated with a 33% lower risk of all-cause mortality, after adjusting for potential confounders. In conclusion, the findings act as preliminary evidence of the benefits of resistance training for cancer survivors.
This study was only conducted for general statistical knowledge of cancer treatment and presented in a clear, concise format. Sadly, only the abstract for this study is accessible to me through PubMed, however the information of the authors is available. They are all in the health field, most being exercise science students. The email address of one student is available. Although I wish I was able to see the whole study, there is no reason to believe bias or misinformation is contained on the page. This is an interesting study that I intend to use as supporting evidence that resistance training may reduce the risk of cancer and support a healthy lifestyle.
Kelly, M. (2013, July 3). Exercise reorganizes the brain to be more resilient to stress. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
This article, posted on princeton.edu in 2013, depicts a Princeton-led study used two groups of mice, one given access to exercise and another not. The mice were exposed to a stressor (cold water) and their brain functions monitored. The researchers found that the mice who exercised processed the stress differently and handled it better. They concluded that exercise promotes cell growth in the ventral hippocampus, and strengthens the mechanisms for preventing these easily excitable brain cells from firing. This allows the fit mice grace under pressure, as oppose to sedentary mice.
The author, Morgan Kelly, works in the Office of Communications at Princeton University, so, although not a scientist herself, she would have access to resources at Princeton. The article is formatted clearly, and does not seem to contain bias as it features other’s takes on the implications of the study. The purpose of the article remains to proliferate the findings of this Princeton study to the general public and possibly beyond. I found this very insightful, knowing little about the brain, and I will cite it directly in my project to support why exercise is beneficial.
BBC. (2009, November 6). Human Mammal, Human Hunter - Attenborough - Life of Mammals - BBC [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=826HMLoiE_o
This is a Youtube video posted by BBC, quickly documenting the “sand people” tribe persistence hunting a kudo. The narration explains the details of the hunt, the tribe tracking and communicating to one another. BBC is a renowned news source and tends to be accurate. The video is constructed clearly and is non-biased. There is no reason to be suspicious of the information presented, especially because the video makes no extraordinary or controversial claims.
The video is meant for entertainment, but it does contain interesting information on persistence hunting and why it is how human ancestors hunted. This video contributed to my knowledge of evolution and movement of the human body. I will use it in my project to demonstrate what humans are built to do, and what is physically possible. Running ultramarathons is not crazy, it is actually what were built to do.
Morris, J., Pollard, R., Everitt, M., Chave, S., & Semmence, A. (n.d.). Vigorous Exercise in Leisure-Time: Protection Against Coronary Heart Disease. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This is the abstract of a reflective study performed investigating an association between vigorous exercise and coronary heart disease (CHD) in men. Using a sample size of 17,944, the study found that men who kept fit and engaged in vigorous exercise were a little less than half as likely to experience incidence of fatal or nonfatal manifestations of CHD, than their peers who reported no vigorous exercise. The study concludes that vigorous exercise might be a sort of “nature defence” against heart disease.
Although I was only able to view the abstract of the study, I found no reason to suspect bias or misinformation. The study was backed by reputable sources and seemingly intended for medical, statistical research. The names of the statisticians who carried out the study and their credentials are provided, most of them hailing from the London School of Hygene and Tropical Medicine, however no contact information is given. The information is presented very directly, as it is an abstract.
Manson, J., & Et al. (n.d.). A Prospective Study of Walking as Compared with Vigorous Exercise in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This is the full report of a prospective study that placed 72,488 females into different categories of energy expenditure (via walking) and looked for association with cardiovascular disease. The study found a strong, graded inverse correlation with energy expenditure and risk of cardiovascular disease in females.
The study was funded by National Institutes of Health and performed by several medical doctors, whose names and level of education are provided. The writing is very clear, concise and scientific. This study has a lot of power given the impressive sample size and consistent results. This study is intended for general medical knowledge and I intend to use it to show the importance of exercise.
Tanasescu, M., & Et al. (2002, October 23). Exercise Type and Intensity in Relation to Coronary Heart Disease in Men. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
This twelve year study, on 44,452 men, looked into the relationship between different types of exercise and heart disease, hoping to find correlations between which exercise may be best for prevention. The study showed that that men who ran an hour a week reduced reduced their risk of heart disease by 42%, those who weight trained 30 minutes a week reduced their risk by 23%, and those who rowed for an hour each week reduced their risk by 18%.
The study was conducted by a group of medical doctors (whose names are available and credentials given), for the purpose of discovering correlations between heart disease and different types of exercise. The source seems free of bias, expressing that the findings in the study are in no way concrete, and is organized in a concise and clear manner. I found the study intriguing, and will use it in my report.
Carey, A. (2005). The pain-free program: A proven method to relieve back, neck, shoulder, and joint pain. Hoboken, N.J.: J. Wiley.
This book is a clinical look at addressing dysfunction through functional training. Not exactly revolutionary, but it holds ideas that western medicine has lost or overlooked. The ideas of the human body as an interconnected machine stressed in this book are amenable to the findings of all my other research. However, the bonus to this book is that it takes a slightly more clinical approach to restoring function. More gentle than, say, Supple Leopard.
This book is intended for the masses to hopefully improve the quality of life for those of us stuck in modern day dysfunctional patterns, or jumping through hoops in the traditional medical system. Carey has run his own clinic Function First for over a decade (at the time of writing the book), and has seen success employing the methods he teaches. There is bias in the book, much in the same way there is bias in Supple Leopard; it is in favor of his ideas and approach. However, I still found the book very helpful and generally right inline with the rest of my research. I will use it to help me address some common problems people have moving.
Starrett, K., & Murphy, T. (2014). Ready to run: Unlocking your potential to run naturally. Victory Belt Publishing.
This book, a sort of spiritual subset to Becoming a Supple Leopard, goes in depth into the mobility, form, and mechanics necessary to be able to enjoy a lifetime of running. Starrett’s stylized and original approach to mobility and injury prevention appear once more. The book advocates bridging the gap from modern running to evolution (barefoot) running, and acts as a sort of blueprint to make that journey.
Starrett is one of the world’s most renowned physical therapists. He owns and operates out of his crossfit gym in California. Some have criticized his approach as containing too much “crossfit propaganda,” and since he is a business man one must be weary of bias or misinformation. That being said, I found most of the material and concepts covered in the book to be fairly vanilla, when it comes to fitness. Simply put, the book tries to keep people who want to go minimal from getting hurt. I will use this book as a source when addressing weak arches in my project.
Boyle, M., & Verstegen, M. (2010). Advances in functional training: Training techniques for coaches, personal trainers and athletes. Santa Cruz, Calif.: On Target Publications.
This book is a follow up to Boyle’s previous work Functional Training for Sports. It highlights the advances in the field of functional strength training since the first book. Boyle is a successful strength and conditioning coach who runs his own practice. The book goes into detail on programming workouts, coaching cues for explaining movement, and new scientific discoveries and understandings of functional strength.
Boyle is on the forefront of his field and also carries a lot of experience behind him. Of course this leaves his opinions open to bias, but I found most of the information in this book to be reasonable and valid, agreeing with other research I conducted. This book is organized well, directed at coaches looking to start their own practice in Strength and Conditioning. As this is a recreational hobby of mine, I found the coaching tips useful. It will also help me to explain some of the more comprehensive ideas about movement in my project.